Single-acting engine



(No Model.)

J. RICHARDS.

SINGLE ACTING ENGINE.

No. 328,522. PatentedjOct. 20, 1885.

IlNrrn TATES PATENT rrrcn,

SINGLE-ACTING ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,522, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed March 16, 1885.

scription of the same.

My invention relates to steam-engines of that class in which steam acts upon one end of the piston, and to the construction of the cylinders and valves, and a means for operating the same.

It consists of a short steam-cylinder having a piston working within it and a piston-guide set in line with the steanrcylinder, so that the piston may pass entirely out of the cylinder at each stroke to permit the steam to escape, while its alignment will be maintained by the guide, so that it will enter the cylinder fairly on the returnstroke.

It also consists in a rotating valve with ports or perforations,whereby steam may be admitted to the cylinder during any portion of the stroke, and in an arrangement of gearing by which the valve is driven, together with certain details of construction, all of which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken through the line X, Fig. 1.

A is the main frame, which is cast in the form of a rectangular box, within which the cranks are inclosed. This bOX has a door, B, which may be removed whenever it is desired to inspect the interior or the cranks. A diaphragm, C, is cast on this frame, forming the bottom of the box, so as to retain the lubricatingfluid with which the crank-case is partially filled. The crank-shaft D is formed in one piece with two or more cranks to correspond with the number of cylinders which are employed. In the present case I have shown two of these cylinders with the requisite accompanying mechanism.

E E are the steam-cylinders, which are cast integral with the casing F. This casing surrounds them, being preferably made rectangular in form to correspond with the base-frame The cylin- A, to which it is bolted, as shown.

Serial No. 159,080.

(No model.)

ders may, however, if desired, be formed separate from the casing and afterward inserted. In the present case the exterior casing, F, is employed as a steam jacket or chamber,into which the exhauststeam escapes after leaving the cylinders E.

G are guides for the pistons H H. These guides are cylindrical, having the same bore as the cylinders E, and may be formed in-. tegrally with the casing or frame F, but are preferably made of hard iron, and inserted so as to stand in line with the cylinders E, to receive the pistons when they leave the cylinders and to insure their entering the cylinders again freely on the return-stroke. The pistons are made very long and do not require expensive packing, and are kept tight by the water-grooves I I, formed around their circumference. If, however, it be found desirable to employ a packing, the slight bellmouth at the lower ends of the cylinders will allow the packing to enter without damage or obstruction. The cranks are connected with the pistons by rods or links J the lower ends of which are connected with the crank-pins in the usual or any suitable manner, and the upper ends with the upper pins, K. These upper pins, K, are of uniform diameter, and are set in the piston, as shown in Fig. 1, their outer ends having the upper surfaces inclined, and they are held in place by set-screws L, which are turned down so as to press upon these faces.

M is the top plate of the piston, held in place by screw N, and when this is removed the screws L are accessible. This plate also prevents the radiation of heat through the piston.

The main-shaft bearings O are bolted to the main casing A by flanges, as shown. Oil is supplied to them from a chamber or cup, Q, on the inside of the casing A, which receives the lubricant as it is dashed up by the action of the cranks dipping into that which is placed in the crank-case, as before described.

P are annular channels of larger diameter near the outer end of the hearing, so that any surplus oil which may work itself outward along the shaft will be received in these chambers, and will be returned by the ducts P, which connect with these chambers.

The steam-valve Q is a simple cylinder extending through a corresponding casing and having ports R made entirely through it, to correspond with the number of cylinders in the engine. by continuous rotation of the valve steam is admitted to the cylinders during such portion of the stroke as may be desirable. This valve, when driven by gearing, as shown, revolves at one-half the speed of the crank-shaft, so that when the opening B through it arrives opposite the port Y, leading into the cylinder, steam will pass through the valve and this port, and when the valve has made a half-revolution the port will again stand in line with Y and steam will again cnterit. Steam enters the valve-chamber through the sage X, passing along above the valve, so as to enter the ports whenever they are in line with the cylinder-ports.

It will be obvious that the valve may be made to revolve with any positive relation to the crank-shaft D, the ports being arranged accordingly. The valve is driven by double geanwheels S, imparting motion from the main shaft to the vertical *shaft or spindle T, and ;his in turn drives the valve spindle U. by neans of the gear-wheels shown at V. v The valveis subjected to end-pressure'and I, longitudinal strain equal to the area of the ralve-stem U- This keeps the valveagainst hejunk-ring W, and prevents the team around the valve=stem'U.

Steam enters the valve-chamber through he pipe X and passes through the valve Q1 tHd the ports Y Y into the cylinders alteriately. 'When the pistons H pass out of the :ylinders E, the' steam escapes into the cham vers around the piston-guides G,as shown by he arrows, Fig. 1, escaping thence through I he exhaust-opening shownat Z." 'This ex iaust issufficiently free to allow the steam to scape from the cylinders nearly or quite down atmospheric pressure, and the small amount f steam remaining and entrapped by the re urn of the piston is held by the clearance at and servesas a'cushion, being also com-' messed to such a point thatwhen fresh steam ;admitted it is ready to act directly upon he piston without any waste or loss;

It will be observed that by separating from 3e valve the function of exhausting the steam 1e lap and lead of the valve can be arranged t pleasure; also,that by giving the valve a ontinuous rotary motion in one direction it 'ill wear to its seat and keep steam-tight.

2 will be obvious that the valve may be conected to the crank-shaft by any positive actlg gearing; but the method shown is preferale by reason of compactness.

texhausting the steam at the end'of the cyl- K161, anddispensing'with the'usual details squired for that purpose, is in a degree deendent upon the large chamber around the Ilinder, into which. thesteam passes freely. he case being rectangular, the capacity of These ports are so arranged that:

pipe or pasescape of 1 rotating withi nsaid case and The possibility this chamber is such that there is no tension or pressure, and the cylinders E are emptied down to atmospheric pressure at each stroke. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a single-acting engine, the cylinders open at the lower end, having pistons moving within them, and guides so arranged that the pistons will pass-outof the lower ends of the cylinders at each stroke, a space between the cylinders and guides to allow the escape of the steam,andthe surrounding case,into which the escaping steam is received, and which forms a jacket for the cylinders, substantially as hereindescr'ibed.

29111 a single-acting engine, an exterior rectangular casing, within which the cranks, pistons, and connections are inclosed, in combination with cylinders and piston-guides arranged with each other and'within the casing which forms a jacket for the cylinders, a

space being left between the lower ends of the cylinders and the upper ends of the guides, through which the steam exhausts into the jacket or casing upon each downward stroke of the piston, substantially as herein described.

3. In asingle-acting engine, the verticallyarranged cylinders and piston-guides having an opening between them and forming an exterior surrounding jacket or'space, into which steam is exhausted through this space, in combination with pistons connected with the cranks by links, and made" of such a length that they pass entirely, out of the cylinders upon eachdownward stroke and entirelyfill the completion of the upward stroke, said cylinders having annular grooves or channels for liquid packing,-substantially as herein desaid guides, thronghwhich, steam exhausts, in

combination withthe horiZontal cylindrical' the cylinders,and extend into the guides at that they pass outof'the cylindersinto guides at' each downward stroke, exhaust-passages.

between the lower ends of thecylinders and casing extendingacross the upper ends of the cylinders and connecting therewith by ports .through the uppercylinder ends,'and a valve having slots passing diametrically throughlit in line with tion of the valve, substantially as herein described. r

a 5. In asingleacting engine, the rectangularcontaining-case with cylinders and pistonguides arranged coincidently in the upper the cylinders; I of exhaust-steam,'pistons moving within these cylinders, and guides connected with the, cranks in the lower part of the case, so that I26 I the cylinder-ports,"whereby steam isonly ad- 'mitted. to the cylinders at ea'ch.se'mi-revolu.v

they pass entirely out of the cylinders at each downward stroke, in combination with the horizontal rotating valve fitted within a cy lindrical case and slotted diametrically in line with ports opening into the ends of the cylin ders, whereby steam is admitted through the valve into the cylinders and exhausted through the spaces at the lower end of the cylinders only, substantially as herein described.

6. In a single-acting engine having the cylinders and piston-guides arranged in line with a space between them for the escape of exhaust-steam, pistons moving within said cylinders and guides and connected with cranks, so as to pass out of the cylinders at each downward stroke, in combination with the horizontal rotating valve, slotted diametrically, and in line with ports opening into the heads of the cylinders for the admission only of steam to said cylinders, the vertical shaft T, the beveled gear-wheels S and V, crankshaft, and valve-spindle, substantially as herein described.

7. In a single acting engine, verticallyplaced cylinders receiving steam at the upper end, open at the lower end, and having guides in line therewith, into which the pistons pass out of the cylinders at each downward stroke,

pitmen by which said pistons are connected with the cranks on the crank-shaft, and pins K, by which the upper ends of the pitmen are connected with the pistons, said pins having the upper surfaces inclined, in combination with set-screws K, by which said pins are held in place, substantially as herein described.

8. In a single-acting engine, the vertical cylinders having corresponding cylindrical guides placed in line below them, the pistons fitting saidcylinders and guides and connected with cranks, so as to pass entirely out of the cylinders to allow steam to exhaust through spaces between the cylinders and guides at each downward stroke of the pistons, in combination with a cylindrical rotating valve, through which steam is admitted only to the cylinders and exhausted only through the lower ends, whereby sufficient steam is retained in the cylinders to act as a cushion for the pistons upon their return-stroke, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN RICHARDS.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. 0 LEE. 

